Mike Pence: Healthcare reform fight 'ain't over by a long shot'

Vice President Mike Pence spoke about the need for both healthcare and tax reform at the Tennessee GOP 2017 Statesmen's Dinner at Music City Center in Nashville. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Vice President Mike Pence said on Thursday that healthcare reform "ain't over by a long shot."

Pence spoke about the need for both healthcare and tax reform at the Tennessee GOP 2017 Statesmen's Dinner at Music City Center in Nashville. While healthcare reform stalled in the Senate last week, Pence remains optimistic the GOP can revisit the issue before the end of the year.

"This ain't over by a long shot...we won't rest until we end the Obamacare nightmare once and for all," Pence said, according to a press pool report. "We're going to keep fighting until Congress sends a bill to his desk to repeal and replace Obamacare."

Pence echoed the sentiment of his boss, President Trump, who has taken to Twitter to pressure Senate Republicans not to give up on healthcare reform.

Some recent press reports have indicated tax reform won't be addressed until 2018, with upcoming votes to raise the debt ceiling acting as potential roadblocks. Pence, however, said the administration aims to have comprehensive tax reform legislation passed this year.

"Next up we're going to pass the biggest tax cut since the days of Ronald Reagan," Pence said. "We're going to cut taxes, and we're going to cut taxes this year."